Written Answers

Thursday 24 August 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £39 million aid package for Scottish farmers announced on 30 March 2000 has so far been paid out to Scottish farmers.

Ross Finnie: Payments representing approximately £500,000 to those in the Over Thirty Months Scheme have been made. In addition payments under the sheep component of the £12 million agri-monetary compensation started in week commencing 14 August. The £20 million component of the package for the Less Favoured Areas will be paid in 2001; most of the remainder of the package (some £11 million) will be paid within the next few months.

Blood Donors

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to promote blood donation.

Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer given to question S1O-509.

  The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service launched a successful new campaign earlier this summer to encourage donors to boost donation over the holiday period.

  1999-2000 saw an increase of 11,000 donor attendances over the previous year.

Education

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to promote awareness of mental health issues amongst primary and secondary school pupils.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to the answer given previously to question S1W-4838.

Environment

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been in consultation with Her Majesty’s Government in connection with the proposed EC Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment and what representations it has made on (a) whether any such Directive should come into force in Scotland and (b) whether retailers or local authorities should handle the retrieval of such goods.

Sarah Boyack: We recently issued a consultation paper which was prepared jointly with the Department of Trade and Industry, on the European Commission’s proposals for Directives on waste electrical and electronic equipment. We shall consult industry, local authorities, SEPA and other interested parties in order to assess the possible impact and benefits of the proposals in Scotland. Comments on the proposals will be taken into account during negotiations on the Directives.

  We support the objectives of the Commission’s proposals, namely the prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery of waste electrical equipment to reduce the disposal of waste and the restrictions on the use of hazardous substances in electrical equipment. These objectives also form part of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland. When agreement is reached on the final form of the Directives, and they are adopted, they will be brought into force in all areas of the Community - including Scotland.

  Under the Commission’s proposals, member states would have to ensure that systems are set up to allow the final holders and distributors to return waste equipment from private households. Producers would have to provide for the collection of equipment from holders other than private households. The proposal does not stipulate which bodies must handle the retrieval of such goods. This is an issue which we would need to address before implementing the final Directive.

Justice

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to support families of the victims of violent crime.

Mr Jim Wallace: Victim Support Scotland is funded by the Scottish Executive to provide emotional and practical help to victims of crime, including violent crime. In serious crimes of violence that support often extends to the family of the victim. In addition, the Support After Murder Project, co-ordinated by Victim Support Scotland, brings together the work of the main voluntary organisations, Cruse, PETAL (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss), and Victim Support Scotland, all of which offer support to people bereaved by murder. Families of victims also, of course, have access to health services which can provide counselling and other support where that is required.

Listed Buildings

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to Lord MacFadyen’s judgments in the Court of Session on the listed building application for 105-107 West Regent Street and 112 Wellington Street, Glasgow.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to Lord MacFadyen’s judgment in the Court of Session on the listed building application for 105-107 West Regent Street and 112 Wellington Street, Glasgow, what the wider implications of this are for the validity of notification and call-in procedures, where action by Scottish Ministers is seen to be founded on (a) representations by Executive Agencies or (b) its own interpretation of approved Structure Plan and Local Plan policies, Planning Advice Notes and National Planning Policy Guidelines, or any other guidance issued by Scottish Ministers under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to Lord MacFadyen’s judgment in the Court of Session on the listed building application for 105-107 West Regent Street and 112 Wellington Street, Glasgow, what the wider implications of this are for decisions made by Scottish Ministers, since the incorporation into Scottish law of the European Convention on Human Rights, to (a) call in and refuse any planning applications, notices of intention to develop and listed building applications or (b) dismiss any planning appeals.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to Lord MacFadyen’s judgment in the Court of Session on the listed building application for 105-107 West Regent Street and 112 Wellington Street, Glasgow, whether this judgment may create a basis for applicants or third party objectors to challenge planning decisions by councils, on the grounds that such decisions may be seen to be influenced by the possibility that councils’ decisions might trigger call in procedures or appeals which would be determined by reporters who have been appointed by the Scottish Ministers and who must apply policies and guidance laid down by the Scottish Ministers.

Sarah Boyack: We have lodged an appeal against Lord Macfadyen’s judgment. We therefore do not consider it appropriate to comment further.

Prison Service

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the staff turnover rate at Kilmarnock Prison compares to those at other Scottish prisons.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information about staff turnover at Kilmarnock is not collected by SPS as it is a matter for their employers, Premier Prison Services, who operate the establishment.

Prison Service

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance and support is offered to prison officers who have been assaulted by inmates.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  The assistance and support depends on the nature of the assault and the needs of the individual officer. Support available may include incident debriefing, welfare services, a free Employee Assistance Programme which provides a 24 hour counselling service to staff and families. Line managers maintain contact with staff if the assault results in their absence from work and, if necessary, a planned return to work programme following occupational health advice is put in place.

Rail Network

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funds will be made available to finance the Glasgow Airport direct rail link as a result of Her Majesty’s Government’s Spending Review 2000.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funds will be made available to finance the Glasgow crossrail scheme as a result of Her Majesty’s Government’s Spending Review 2000.

Sarah Boyack: The DETR Transport 10 Year Plan makes reference to a number of capital schemes, including a new Rail Modernisation Fund which is to be administered by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority. The procedures and criteria for the fund have yet to be developed.

School Trips

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are in place in relation to visits by pre-school groups to farms and farm parks.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to the answer given previously to S1W-8848. The answer applies equally to visits by pre-school groups.

Student Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what position it has taken in its discussions with the Department of Social Security about the harmonisation of student support and state benefit provision.

Nicol Stephen: My officials are presently in discussions with the Department of Social Security and the other UK education departments about the relationship between the student support and the benefits systems with a view to identifying areas where greater harmonisation would be particularly desirable. These discussions are examining a wide variety of issues.

Student Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have received discretionary assistance from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a period during which they temporarily withdrew from their course since 1990.

Nicol Stephen: A student who has temporarily withdrawn from his or her course, for whatever reason, is ineligible to receive student support from the Awards Agency as he or she is no longer a registered student in attendance on a course.

Transport

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public investment will be available to improve the transport infrastructure of the Glasgow area as a result of Her Majesty’s Government’s Spending Review 2000.

Sarah Boyack: As the Minister for Finance announced on 18 July,   the   Scottish Executive is currently considering its spending priorities in the light of the UK Government’s Spending Review, with a view to presenting a draft Budget to Parliament by the end of September. I will thereafter determine priorities for transport investment.